The distinguished Bedford College alumna, who passed away in October 2018, left a legacy to the Bedford Society Scholarship Fund to enable future students to continue with their studies, a gesture typical of her generous nature
Rachel Whittaker was a life-long advocate of the merits of the private sector, yet she was also a dedicated public servant. As well as carving out a successful career in marketing, Rachel was a long-serving Conservative councillor at Westminster City Council, for a time holding the position of chief whip, and sat as a magistrate for more than ten years. She was appointed to London’s Metropolitan Police Committee in 1995 and continued to serve on its successor body, the Metropolitan Police Authority, for the longest possible period. In 2002 Rachel was awarded an MBE for services to policing before becoming a Steward at Westminster Abbey, a position of which she was hugely proud.
Rachel was always public spirited. Born in Huddersfield in 1943 the third of four daughters, Rachel attended the local girls’ grammar school and was the first member of her family to go to university when she won a place at Bedford College in 1962 to read Sociology.
“I met Rachel in our second year when we were both on the Union committee where she was Vice President and I was Treasurer,” remembers her friend Dinah Nichols, an Honorary Fellow of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. “She was quite a forceful person then and continued to be a forceful person. We remained very close friends even though we had markedly different political views.”
Rachel never shied away from doing what she believed was right. When a group of students from another of the London Colleges playfully stole the Bedford College mascot at a party, Rachel took the matter in hand: “She ran after them and got the unicorn back and hid in the ladies’ loo!” Dinah recalls.
In 1965, Rachel graduated and began her career at advertising agency J Walter Thompson. She rented a house in Islington with Dinah, before the pair moved to a flat in Strutton Ground in Westminster in 1970. Dinah moved out three years later, but Rachel stayed on and remained there for the rest of her life. “Westminster and its politics and church became a real focus later in her life,” says Dinah.
Rachel joined Reuters in 1971 to work in general news marketing, before being seconded to their Canadian subsidiary in Toronto where she worked for five years as a human resources director.
On her return to London as a single woman in her early 50s, Rachel dedicated herself to public work. “She was a great reformer, and always wanted to improve things,” says Dinah. “She carved her own life, which was very typical of her family – her father was a self-made businessman and had been Lord Mayor of Huddersfield. She was very proud of her Yorkshire roots and was an assiduous aunt and great aunt.”
Both Rachel and Dinah were founding members of the Bedford Society and devised its objectives to keep the spirit of Bedford College alive and to provide links between alumna and future students. Dinah herself funds the Dinah and Jessica Nichols Scholarship for history students in memory of her sister, who was also an alumna of Bedford College. “I’d talked to Rachel about it and what fun it was to see the recipient each year – they’re always so grateful, clever and committed,” says Dinah. “Rachel recognised that there is a turning point in the life of people who have done their first degree and want to go on to do further academic work but need funding, so I expect that motivated her.”
Rachel was fond of the finer things in life. “On holiday, she always wanted to reorganise the hotel as it was never up to scratch and the gin and tonics had to be perfectly chilled,” remembers Dinah (pictured left, with Rachel) fondly. “When she went into the hospice for care she was still ordering a silk dressing gown four days before she died. Everyone seriously admired the way she handled her illness – pure Yorkshire grit.”
Rachel’s funeral was held at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, with the wake held at the RAC Club and was attended by Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, and her predecessor Bernard Hogan-Howe. “It was a super affair, exactly what she would have wanted,” says Dinah. “I’m sure she organised it, and certainly laid on the champagne.”
Rachel was given the rare honour of having a plaque installed in her memory in the pavement of Strutton Ground. “She still feels very much alive to me,” says Dinah. “People are still talking about her – our friends will say ‘wouldn’t Rachel have loved this’ or ‘wouldn’t Rachel have been cross about that?’. Her memory lives on.” And now with her gift to the Bedford Society Scholarships Fund, so too does her generosity of spirit.
To find out more or to support the Bedford Society Scholarships Fund, contact Helen Longworth, Development Manager at +44 (0)1784 917677 or email development@royalholloway.ac.uk.
